Besides being in a much better position going into the offseason this year than they have recently, there is a lot of pressure on the Patriots to ace free agency and the draft (again), particularly because they still have a quarterback on a rookie contract. That allows them to spend more money before having to dish out the big bucks next year for Drake Maye.
It has prompted a sense of urgency among New England fans and media, who hope the team will continue to go all-in on improving, especially now that they're coming off an unexpected Super Bowl appearance.
It's easy to see why there is a lot of concern about the Patriots not taking advantage of that opportunity, given that some of the best teams have struggled to find the caliber of talent their rosters require after paying their franchise quarterbacks.
Unfortunately, however, that urgency doesn't appear to be on the minds of those in the front office of Foxboro, at least not according to Eilot Wolf.
Eliot Wolf isn't keen on the Patriots spending big just because Drake Maye is on a rookie contract
While speaking to reporters at the NFL Combine earlier this week, Wolf spoke about New England's approach to free agency spending this year, after spending a record amount in 2025, and his comments about not wanting to keep that going just because Drake Maye is on a rookie contract have sparked a lot of discussion amongst the fans.
It was a surprising comment to hear, considering the position the Patriots are in.
Eliot Wolf on the #Patriots approach to spending in free agency:
— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) February 24, 2026
"It doesn't necessarily mean we have to spend because Drake's on a rookie contract."
"We're gonna make decisions both for the short and long term."
-@CLNSMedia pic.twitter.com/AVn7f755QR
While it makes sense that the Patriots don't want to spend frivolously every single year, even more so after the roster they put together last year was good enough to make the Super Bowl, it feels foolish not to take advantage of still having two star players, Christian Gonzalez and Maye, on rookie contracts.
The cornerback is expected to reset the market with his extension so that the Patriots will be on the hook for a lot of money with Gonzalez, and Maye plays a position that gets paid the most in the NFL, inevitably meaning they will have to write a big check for the quarterback next year.
That will take a big hit to their cap space and leave them with limited opportunities to improve the roster in the way that they want or need after those contracts are signed.
Perhaps he's playing coy about their upcoming plans and doesn't want to lay it all out on the table for the competition to hear; that would be the best-case scenario. But if Wolf is serious about having a tighter grip on the wallet, then Patriots fans might have room to be concerned.